Eugene alexander simpson



E. A. SIMPSON.

SIGNAL LANTERN.

APPLICATION FILED 0:0.23, 191s.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

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EUGENE ALEXANDER SIMPSON, OF MORRISTOWN, TENNESSEE, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF'IO CHARLES HICKS AND ALFRED J'. TETER, BOTH OF CHATTANOOGA, TENNESSEE.

SIGNAL-LANTERN.

Application filed December 23, 1915.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EUGENE A. SIMrsoN, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Morristo-wn, county of Hamblen, and State ofTennessee, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Signal-Lanterns, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates broadly to illumination and more particularly to asignal lantern.

The primary object of my invention resides in the provision of a deviceof the above character embodying transparent means for association witha base of a light source and movable at times to surround the lightsource and consequently change the color of the light displayed.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of novel meansfor mounting the transparent means or colored shade, so as to reducefriction to a minimum during the operation, novel means being alsoprovided for operating the shade to either raise the shade so that itsurrounds the light source or to lower the shade topermit the latter tolie within the supporting sleeve and consequently permit of the lightsource being displayed in its usual manner.

Another object of this invention resides in the provision of novel meansfor associating the operating means with the body of the lantern so thatthe colored shade can be expeditiously actuated eXteriorly of the lampbody and frame.

Another object of this invention resides in the novel means forassociating the transparent means and other parts cooperating therewithon the standard lamp body which can in turn be removably associated withthe standard frame.

Another object of this invention resides in the improved means formounting the wick operating means so that it can be readily engaged onthe bottonr-of the lamp body.

A still further-object of my invention resides in the provision of adevice of the above character that is simple in construc tion, eflicientin operation, and one that contains but a few simple parts that can becheaply manufactured and assembled, and when assembled can be placedupon the market and sold at a minimum cost.

Other objects as well as the nature, charac- Specification of LettersPatent.

Patented Aug. 22, 1916.

Serial No. 68,366.

teristic features and scope of this invention will be more readilyunderstood from. the following description taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings and pointed out in the claims, forming a part ofthis specification.

Referring to the drawings :Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of myinvention associated with a portion of the standard lamp frame, showingto advantage the arrangement of the colored chimney when in itslowermost position. Fig. 2 is a side elevational view of my inventionshowing the transparent chimney in a raised position. Fig. 3 is atransverse sectional view taken on line 33 of Fig. 1, in the directionin which the arrow points. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of my invention.Fig. 5 is an enlarged vertical sectional and fragmentary view of amodified form of transparent chimney. Fig. 6 is a fragmentary sideelevational view of the body, illustrating a means for connecting thebody to the frame.

Referring more particularly to the drawings to which similar referencenumerals designate like and corresponding parts throughout the variousviews, I associate with a standard lamp frame including guarding andsupporting bars 1, to which is connected a cylindrical supporting casing2 for the usual chimney 3, my improved lamp base generally designated a,connection being preferably provided through the medium of oppositelydisposed outstanding lugs 5 which engage oppositely disposed recesses 6in the annular base, and connnunicating slots 7. A leaf spring 8 has oneend secured exteriorly of the annular base while the opposite end isprovided with an opening for removable engagement with one of the lugsfor locking the lamp body in position. It is to be understood that thisconnection means constitutes no essential part of my invention, beingmerely illustrated and described in order that a thorough understandingand comprehension of my invention may be gained.

In mounting my invention on the lamp base, the bottom of the base isprovided with a central raised portion 9, and rotatably and centrallyconnected thereto through the medium of a bolt 10, is a circularmetallic plate 11, the outer edge of said plate being arranged in closerelation with the shoulder provided by the raised portion. A nut 12,serves to support the plate during operation while an annular band 13,soldered or otherwise connected to the bottom of the base, holds theplate in close relation with the bottom and reduces rattling to aminimum.

Centrally disposed upon the upper surface of the bottom of the base isan oil receptacle 141-, to the top of which is connected a wicksupporting closure cap 15, the light from which is normally viewedthrough the chimney 8 when the device is complete. In order to surroundthe light and display a light of a different color, I have provided myimpiroved transparent means. In arranging the transparent means withinthe base, a metallic sleeve 16, is mounted on the upper surface of thebottom in spaced relation to the receptacle l-it, through the medium ofan inwardly extending flange 17, integral with the sleeve and solderedto the bottom. Rotatably on the bottom exteriorly of and in closerelation with the sleeve 16, is another metallic sleeve 18, the movementof which is guided by a flange 19, formed by bending the upper edge ofthe sleeve 16, out wardly upon itself. The sleeve 16, is furtherprovided with oppositely disposed and diametrically slanting slots 20,which are arranged in an opposite direction to the oppositely disposeddiametrically slanting slots 21, in the sleeve 18, for a purpose to bedescribed. An annular channel shaped member 22, hereinafter termed ashade-carriage, is slidably arranged within the sleeve 16, andprojecting through and extending from diametrically opposite points inthe said member are studs 23, which are also arranged-through the slots20 and 21, as is illustrated to advantage in the drawing. The lowerportion 24:, of the channel shaped member is wider than the upperportion and serves to support the transparent means, in the presentinstance, a colored glass shade 25, which is removably locked in thechannel shaped member through the medium of outwardly projecting andintegrally formed studs 26, receivable within registering slots 27, inthe upper portion of the channel shaped member. It will now be apparentwhen the outer sleeve 18, is rotated the lugs 23, will be raised by theslots 21 and 20, and guided by these slots until the studs reach theupper ends of the slots and consequently raise the shade 25, so that itsurrounds the light source and causes a red light to be dis played.

For the purpose of rotating the outer sleeve 18, I have soldered orotherwise secured the shank 28, of an operating element to the lowersurface thereof, said shank being arranged in a semi-circular slot 29,in the bottom of the base and in an opening 30, in the plate 11. Anoperating handle 31, is formed by looping the free end of the elementupon itself, said handle being soldered or otherwise rigidlyconnected'to the plate so as to rotate therewith.

For the purpose of raising or lowering the wick without disconnectingany of the parts, I have rotatably mounted the lower end of a rod 32, inan opening in the bottom and in a semi-circular slot 33, the oppositeend of the rod being rotatably mounted in an angular bracket 34, rigidlyconnected to the upper surface of the oil receptacle 1 1. A gear 35, isrigidly connected to the upper end of the rod and in mesh with a similargear 36, rigidly mounted on the projecting end of the wick operatingstaff 37, the latter in turn, being supported by the bracket 34. Aknurled element 88, formed on the lower end of the rod facilitates therotation of the rod.

In Fig. 5, of the accompanying drawings, I have illustrated a modifiedform of transparent means. In this instance I have provided acylindrical frame-work including an annular band 39, from which projectthe studs 40, and vertical supporting bars ll,

integral with the band. This frame-work supports arcuate pieces of mica4:2, or like material of any desired color.

The operation of my invention is as follows z-Assuming that thetransparent shade 25, is in a position as illustrated in Fig. 1, andthat it is desired to raise the shade to surround the light andconsequently display a light of a difierent color, the handle 31, isengaged and turned so that the shank 28, will slide through the slot 29,in the bottom and rotate the plate 11. During this movement the othersleeve 18, to which the shank is connected will rotate and cause thestuds 28, to be moved and guided upwardly through the medium of theoppositely arranged slanting slots 21 and 20 arranged respectively inthe outer sleeve 18, and the inner stationary sleeve 16. Since the shade25, is connected and supported on the channel shaped member 22, the saidsleeve will be raised simultaneously with movement of the handle 31. Itwill be understood that the rod 32, will move in the slot 33, when theplate is, rotated. To lower the shade 25, it is only necessary toreverse the movement of the handle 31.

Although I have shown and described the preferred form of my inventionit will be understood that I am not to be limited to the exact detailsshown, however, I desire that great stress be laid upon the arrangementof the novel shade, as Well as the oppositely arranged slots in thestationary and movable sleeves for lifting and guiding the shade duringoperation. Attention is also directed to the novel arrangement of theoperating means for the shade and for the wick which can be manipulatedwithout disconnecting any of the parts.

From the above description taken in connection with the accompanyingdrawings it can be easily seen that this invention provides a devicethat is simple in construction containing but a few simple parts thatcan be cheaply manufactured and assembled and when assembled can beplaced upon the market and sold at a minimum cost.

Having thus fully described this invention What is claimed and desiredto be secured by Letters Patent is 1. The combination with a pair ofconcentric sleeves provided with oppositely extending diagonallyarranged slots and a shade carriage operable thereby, of a basestationarily carrying one of said sleeves and having a shoulder formedthereon, and a plate on said base for peripheral engagement with saidshoulder, said plate being operatively connected with the other of saidsleeves to insure even movement of the second said sleeve when inoperation.

2. The combination with a base having a pair of relatively movablesleeves thereon provided with oppositely extending diago nal slots andoperating means therefor, of a shade carriage comprising a channelshapedring having one peripheral wall thereof extended to provide a baseflange for supporting a shade, and a pair of pins extending from saidring at diametrically opposite points for engagement with the slots inthe sleeves for the purpose specified.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 1st day ofDecember 1915.

EUGENE ALEXANDER SIMPSON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. G.

